Election

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Inspired by the Scottish example, three of our active members today had the opportunity to choose members of the US Senate. This 100-member chamber has elections for approximately 1/3 of its members every two years, and since each state has two, a citizen living in that country can expect to be able to vote for one in 2/3 of the elections.

This time, there are senate races in South Dakota, Illinois, and Michigan. Apparently there are two in South Carolina. ( How did that happen?) CNN is projecting that some fellow named "Rounds" will win the South Dakota election, with 0% of the vote counter.

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I voted for Ralph Nader.

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I voted for Ralph Nader.

I did not know he was up for election.

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Oh, no? I thought he was always running for something. Maybe I voted for Rolly Napha then. I don't really know.

[MM_Dandy]

Inspired by the Scottish example, three of our active members today had the opportunity to choose members of the US Senate. This 100-member chamber has elections for approximately 1/3 of its members every two years, and since each state has two, a citizen living in that country can expect to be able to vote for one in 2/3 of the elections.

This time, there are senate races in South Dakota, Illinois, and Michigan. Apparently there are two in South Carolina. ( How did that happen?) CNN is projecting that some fellow named "Rounds" will win the South Dakota election, with 0% of the vote counter.

I think in some states, if a Senate seat is vacated, the governor appoints someone to fill the vacancy only until the next general election, whereupon the seat may be contested, and the winner serves the remainder of the term.

Rounds (a former and popular governor) did end up winning quite comfortably as expected, but there were one or two national media outlets that declared the winners of both the senate and gubernatorial races even before the polls closed. The outgoing Secretary of State declared the media actions "outrageous". I merely rolled my eyes. At any rate, for the first time in my memory, the entire US congressional delegation is made up entirely of Republicans. The entire delegation was all-Democrat for about 7 months in 2004, following Herseth's win in the special election held in June, and before Daschle lost to Republican John Thune in the general election later that year.

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At any rate, for the first time in my memory, the entire US congressional delegation is made up entirely of Republicans. The entire delegation was all-Democrat for about 7 months in 2004, following Herseth's win in the special election held in June, and before Daschle lost to Republican John Thune in the general election later that year.

I assume this refers to your state, not the whole country! Furthermore, as a quick Google indicates that the South Dakota delegation to the US house could ride in a two-seater car and still have room to bring a friend along, I assume you refer to both upper and lower houses.

[MM_Dandy]

How did I miss writing that? Yes, that's for South Dakota only, and both the Senate (2) and House of Reps (1) seats. Still enough room for them in a sedan plus a chauffeur. Thune's kind of tall, but Rounds and Noem are short enough that he could ride comfortably in front or behind either.

Locally, James "thermological" Bolin was re-elected to the state house of representatives. There were two open seats in our district, and only two candidates, but even if it were for only one seat, he'd have won comfortably. At least I can take solace in the fact that he's probably only the second-worst representative in the state (that title may now belong to Steve Hickey since 2011).

And in other news, South Dakota elected to expand gambling in Deadwood (and on the reservation casinos) to include more games like Keno, etc.; opted to raise the minimum wage; and approved a measure which mandates that certain insurers with certain coverage list any and all willing health care providers which meet the insurer's qualifications. Which, as far as I'm concerned, isn't any different than the way things are now. Who knows, maybe when it gets to court (and it will), the courts will side with the providers, but I don't think the language is specific enough for them to do that.